Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Ab_Normal · 03-27-2003, 12:47 PM

My town, specifically, for a conference titled Physics and the God of Abraham.

Quote:

The focus of this year's lectures is on what contemporary physics reveals about time and the relationship of this to the traditional theistic conception of God as eternal and active in temporal matters. This series explores the relationship of faith and physics. The purpose of the program is to provide university faculty and students, as well as the general public, with the opportunity to learn from recent work on the relationship of theistic religion and modern physics.

Has anyone here been to one of Craig's presentations? I don't know much about physics or apologetics... would I be wasting my time?

Here's what he's going to be talking about:

Quote:

The great German philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646-1716) postulated the existence of a metaphysically necessary being which supplies the sufficient reason for the existence of everything. Leibniz identified this being with God. Skeptics such as David Hume (1711-76; Scotland) countered that perhaps the universe itself is the metaphysically necessary being sought by Leibniz. Is there any way to break this standoff? If it could be shown that the universe lacks any of the essential properties of a necessary being, then it would follow that its existence is not necessary but contingent. Remarkable discoveries in astronomy and astrophysics during the past century suggest that the universe lacks at least one property of a necessary being: eternality. This finding supports Leibniz's contention that the universe is not necessary in its existence but depends on a being which transcends the space-time world and brought it into existence.

xian · 03-27-2003, 12:56 PM

well i live in western washington, and if it was on a weekend i would make the drive no doubt.

Silent Dave · 03-27-2003, 02:08 PM

Ask him a time machine type question.

Dave

Toto · 03-27-2003, 02:15 PM

I've heard him in a debate, and he's worth studying for his debate tactics. I've never heard him lecture on philosophy, which is his subject area. If you're not interested in religious philosophy or apologetics, you might find it boring, especially since he doesn't seem to be debating anyone.

It's at a Jesuit school, if that means anything.

edited to add: the question that seemed to trip him in his debate with Eddie Tabash was how an omnibenevolent and omnipotent God could have allowed the Holocaust. But it looks like he is going to be lecturing on much more abstruce questions, such as whether the universe is necessary or contingent, so he might be able to avoid that question.

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03-27-2003, 12:56 PM	#2
xian Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Earth Posts: 378	well i live in western washington, and if it was on a weekend i would make the drive no doubt.

03-27-2003, 02:08 PM	#3
Silent Dave Banned Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Bloomington, MN Posts: 2,209	Ask him a time machine type question. Dave

03-27-2003, 02:15 PM	#4
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I've heard him in a debate, and he's worth studying for his debate tactics. I've never heard him lecture on philosophy, which is his subject area. If you're not interested in religious philosophy or apologetics, you might find it boring, especially since he doesn't seem to be debating anyone. It's at a Jesuit school, if that means anything. edited to add: the question that seemed to trip him in his debate with Eddie Tabash was how an omnibenevolent and omnipotent God could have allowed the Holocaust. But it looks like he is going to be lecturing on much more abstruce questions, such as whether the universe is necessary or contingent, so he might be able to avoid that question.

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